Las Vegas mixologists to share creations for National Tequila Day
It seems we’ll celebrate just about anything we can these days, and National Tequila Day on Friday would be a good opportunity. To mark it, here are some tequila cocktails by Las Vegas mixologists.
Get Shorty!
Carson Kitchen, 124 S. Sixth St.
This drink, which general manager Matt Harwell created and named for Joaquin “El Chapo” Guzman, is a suitably spicy (but slightly sweet) mix of El Jimador tequila, grapefruit juice, lime juice, and cayenne and paprika simple syrup, served on the rocks and garnished with a lime wheel in a glass rimmed with sea salt, chili powder and lime zest, $12.
Verbena
The Chandelier, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
The off-menu Verbena — one of the top-selling cocktails at The Chandelier — is a mixture of Herradura blanco tequila, yuzu-calamansi sour mix, ginger syrup and lemon verbena leaves; guests are instructed to eat the Sichuan flower before sipping to speed up the salivary glands and accentuate the experience, $17.
Chica-Rita
Chica, The Venetian
Suitably tropical, it’s a mix of lime juice, simple syrup, pineapple juice, tequila, sage leaves and bitters, shaken and strained over ice, garnished with a pineapple wedge and a sage leaf and served in a glass rimmed with salt and pepper, $20.
Salt Air Margarita
China Poblano, The Cosmopolitan
As the only Nevada establishment certified by the tequila regulatory council of Mexico, China Poblano features a variety of cocktails, including this whimsical take with fresh lime juice, tequila blanco and ether salt air, $14, or free for locals with purchase of $35 chef’s tasting menu, local ID and ad at chinapoblano.com, through Dec. 30.
Something May Catch Fire
Clique Bar & Lounge, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
A standout in Clique’s tableside mixology lineup, Something May Catch Fire puts on a show with Patron Blanco Tequila, aloe vera liqueur, yellow Chartreuse, lemon and pineapple, garnished with rosemary and cassia chips, $25.
1800 Margarita Special
El Cortez
Ask for this one by name at the bars and restaurants at the El Cortez. It’s tequila, sweet and sour mix and triple sec with a salt rim, $5.
Cucumber Fresca and Scorpion Stinger
Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House, MGM Grand
The Cucumber Fresca is a refreshing muddled-cucumber cocktail with a hint of jalapeno spice that’s made with 21 Seeds Cucumber Jalapeno Tequila, Chacho Jalapeno Aguardiente, Domaine de Canton Ginger Liqueur and fresh lemon and lime juice. The Scorpion Stinger, made with Santo Mezquila, Chaco Jalapeno Aguardiente, honey syrup and ruby red grapefruit juice, may look harmless but holds a bite, $16 each.
Verdant Mule
Esther’s Kitchen, 1130 S. Casino Center Drive
Containing tequila, celery, ginger and green Tabasco, this cocktail is a lemon-tangy, spicy agave cooler with a ginger bite, $12.
Tequila Makes Her Clothes Fall Off
Gilley’s Saloon, Dance Hall & Bar-B-Que, Treasure Island
This drink with the naughty name is made with Sauza Hornitos Reposado Tequila, Amaretto Disaronno, pineapple juice and guava nectar, $14; Gilley’s currently is open Thursdays through Saturdays.
Jing Rita
Jing, Downtown Summerlin
The Jing Rita, which makes a splash with an edible flower garnish and half-salted rim, is a mixture of Codigo Rosa Tequila, lime juice, yuzu, agave nectar, Cointreau and flat dry rosé, $14.
Kamu Cooler
Kamu Ultra Karaoke, Grand Canal Shoppes
This cooling cooler is a mix of 21 Seeds cucumber and jalapeno tequila, Aperol, watermelon juice and house-made lime and mint sour, shaken and served on ice topped with Fever Tree ginger beer and garnished with mint and a watermelon slice, $17.
Vegas Heart
Lawry’s The Prime Rib, 4043 Howard Hughes Parkway
Exclusive to the Las Vegas branch of the beefy chain, it has the bold, intense flavor of passion fruit, blood orange and pomegranate puree, with tequila, lime juice, sour mix and a splash of 7Up, rimmed with tajin and garnished with a lime wheel, $15.
Margarita
Lucky Bar, Red Rock Resort
Lucky Bar goes classic with a margarita made with Avion Silver, lime juice, Cointreau and agave syrup with a half-salt rim, $12.
Hong Kong Iced Tea
Mott 32, The Venetian
This riff on the classic cocktail blends Volcan Cristalino Anejo Tequila with Lillet Blanc, blackcurrant and jasmine tea, $18.
Pole Position Margarita
Silverado Steak House, South Point
Patron Silver Tequila is mixed with pineapple juice, a squeeze of fresh lime juice and agave nectar and topped with ginger beer and a blood orange chip, $8.50.
The Vaccine
Sparrow + Wolf, 4480 Spring Mountain Road
Campo Tequila is mixed with fresh cold-pressed celery, cucumber, green apple, lime, ginger, jalapeno and cilantro and served from a custom bottle, $14.
Spiced Watermelon
STK, The Cosmopolitan
This spicy, sexy mix of Patron Silver Tequila, St. Germain, WTRMLN WTR cold-pressed juice, fresh lime and jalapeno is $19, or half off during happy hour from 5 to 6:30 p.m. daily.
Spicy Flamingo
Spritz, The Venetian
Spritz, on the resort’s newly remodeled pool deck, serves this blend of Espolon tequila, lime juice, house-made agave syrup and watermelon juice shaken and strained over ice with a watermelon slice and tajin, $21.
Topgolf Marg
Topgolf, MGM Grand
Topgolf makes a classic margarita with Sauza Silver Tequila, Cointreau and lime, but guests can also try it with a bit of mango puree, $12.
The Review-Journal is owned by the family of Las Vegas Sands Corp. Chairman and CEO Sheldon Adelson. Las Vegas Sands operates The Venetian.
Contact Heidi Knapp Rinella at hrinella@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0474. Follow @HKRinella on Twitter.